Cotton-gin.



No. 801,391. PATENTED OCT. 10, 1905.

G. A. LOWRY.

COTTON GIN.

APPLICATION FILED 0M. 22. 1900.

5 SHEETS-$11123? 1.

Wfiasaea G IZZZ7ZZ7 No. 801,391. PATENTED OCT. 10, 1905. G. A. LOWRY.

COTTON GIN.

APPLICATION 311,21) OCT. 22. 1900.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 801,391. Q PATENTED OCT. 10, 1905. G. A. LOWRY.

COTTON GIN.

APPLIOATIDN FILED OCT. 22, 1900.

5 SHEETS-SHEBT 8.

No. 801,391. PATENTED OCT. 10, 1905. G. A. LOWRY. COTTON GIN.

APPLICATION FILED 00w. 22. 1900.

5 sunm's sum 4.

PATENTED OCT. 10, 1905. G. A. LOWRY.

COTTON GIN.

APPLICATION FILED 001222 1900.

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flzng M UITE STATES PATENT FFICE.

GEORGE A. LOWRY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO PLANTERS OOMPRESS COMPANY, A CORPORA- TION OF MAINE.

COTTON-GIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 10, 1905.

Application filed October 22, 1900. Serial No. 33,852.

f0 (6 whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. LOWRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Cotton- Gin, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cotton-gins.

The objectof the invention is to render more efficient, simple, and economical the construction of this class of apparatus.

The invention consists, substantially, in the principles of construction as detailed in the subjoined specification, as illustrated in the drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

Like reference-signs refer to similar parts in the several figures of the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a form of machine embodying the principles of the invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail, in vertical section, parts broken oif, of aform of conveying apparatus for the seed material.

Fig. 3 is a detail view in section on the line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing another form of conveying apparatus adapted for use in carrying out my invention. Fig. 5 is a broken detail view, in top plan, ofthe construction shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 1 with part of the covering over the conveyer broken away. Fig. '7 is an enlarged detail of a form of feed-hopper, partly in section, on the line 2 2, Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a broken view, in vertical section, of a slightlymodified construction embodying the invention. Fig. 9 is a top plan view of another modified construction embodying the invention. Fig. 10 is a broken detail view in sec"- tion on the line l0 10, Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a similar view on the line 11 11, Fig. 9."

In previous'patents granted to me, notably Patent No. 581,601, is described and claimed a press for compressing cotton and other materials in which are employed a compression chamber or holder and a slotted cap or head, the fiber to be subjected to compression being passed or drawn through the slots in the head and into the chamber or holder and built up in superposed layers of high density by causing a relative movement of the slotted head and the chamber or holder and offering resistance to the advancement of the compressed material. l have found that a press of this construction when modified in such manner as to prevent the seeds from being drawn between the moving mass of cotton and the cap-plate will remove the fibers from seedcotton and that by making certain additions for properly presenting the seed-cotton to the slotted head and removing the seeds after the fiber is stripped therefrom an exceedingly ellicient cotton-gin will also be produced.

In the accompanying drawings are shown various forms of mechanism adapted to carrying out the principles of my invention, and these will now be described; but I desire it to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the particular construction or type of machine set forth.

Reference sign A designates a suitable frameworkin which is mounted an open-ended chamber or holder (1, and B is a cap or head plate for one end of such chamber or holder, said cap or head plate being provided with one or more slots or openings I 'therethrough and which are arranged to extend in a general radial direction. The chamber or holder 0 is designed to contain a mass P of material which exerts a pressure through the expansive force thereof against the inner surface of the cap or head plate. Relative movement may be imparted to this mass and the headplate in any suitable manner. In the particular form shown a pulley D is driven from a convenient source and through the engagement of a gear E, rotated thereby, with a rack F, secured to or carried by a flange projecting from or connected to the chamber or holder, said chamber or holder is rotated, the cap or head plate being held stationary. To reduce friction, the chamber or holder may be supported upon antifriction-rollers G, as shown. It is obvious that other forms of gearing and construction for securing relative movement of the chamber or holder and the cap or head plate might readily be substituted for that shown and above described, so far as the present invention is concerned and equally Well answer the purpose in view, or the chamber or holder may be held stationary while the head-plate is rotated, or they might both be rotated, but in different directions or at different speeds.

Reference-sign N designates a suitable feedhopper into which the material to be ginned is placed. A brace O may serve to steady (ygg and support this hopper. Within hopper N is arranged a conical deflector N, having the base thereof extending to a point adjacentto or beyond the outer end of the slots in the head-plate. By this arrangement the material to be ginned when placed in the hopper will be deflected toward the perimeter of the cap or head plate. In order to accomplish this result, bridges N in the form of doubleinclined sheds are provided and arranged to extend from the apex of the conical deflector toward the base thereof and are of increasing width to the point where they join the deflector at the lower edge of the latter.

It is obvious that, if desired, the feed-hopper may be omitted and other forms of devices employed for properly presenting the material to the slots in the head-plate. In Figs. 9, 10, and 11 I have shown the feedhopper omitted.

It will be understood that the mass of material in the chamber or holder exerts a pressure or expansive force against the inner surface of the head, and by reason of such pressure or expansive tendency such material will tend to bulge or expand upwardly into the slot, as most clearly indicated in Fig. 11. It will also be seen that the surface of this bulge or expanded portion cooperates with the lip of the slot in the head-plate to form a contracting throat between the surface of said lip and the mass of compressed material in the chamber or holder. Now by imparting a relative movement to the mass of material and the surface or abutment against which it exerts a pressure then the surface of such material, which bulges or expands into the slot by reason of the wave-like or rolling motion thereof during such relative movement, cooperates with the surface of the lip of the slot in the head-plate to exert a gripping action on the fibers of fresh material presented adjacent to the slot and the outer surface of the head-plate, thereby drawing such additional fiber into the chamber, and hence adding to the body of the mass of material contained therein, and by preventing or restraining the seeds of the seed-cotton from following the fiber or from being drawn into the chamher or holder with the fiber such fiber will be stripped from such seeds. The seeds may be prevented or restrained from following the fiber or from being drawn into the chamber or holder in many different ways. One form of means for accomplishing this result is the peculiar shape of the lip bounding one edge of the feed-slot. In the form shown the inclined or beveled under surface of such lip meets the inclined or beveled upper surface of such lip at a point below the medial line of such lip, and the resulting contracting throat formed by the cooperation of the surface of the lip of the slot in the head-plate and the surface of the compressed material which bulges or expands into the slot, as clearly indicated in Fig. 11,

excludes from passage through the slot any object of the size of a seed, while permitting the entangling of the fibers of the seed-cotton with such compressed material and the drawing into the chamber of such fibers as the compressed material moves. Of course it is understood that the seeds are oval and comparatively hard, and when stripped of the fibers or lint and rolling upon the compressed material, which latter is very dense, they are excluded by reason of lack of space from passing into the chamber. If the compressed material were not up to proper density or the shape of the slot at its edge adjacent to the contact of the seed was quite flaring, so as to provide a space for the entrance of the seed, the exclusion of such seed could not be as certainly effected; but with the construction shown in Figs. 10 and 11 and described and proper density of cotton there is no trouble on this score, as in practice such construction has achieved the resultdesired. Asimilar resultthat is, the exclusion of the seed-may be obtained by other means than that just described, one example of which is illustrated in Fig. 3 and consists in making the slot too narrow to permit a seed to pass therethrough.

In the construction shown as illustrative of operative embodiments of the invention the pressure employed to exclude the seeds is secured by the expansion of the compressed material. I do not desire, however, to limit or restrict my invention in this respect. I wish it to be understood that this is one mode of accomplishing the end desired and the preferable mode so far as my practical experience has demonstrated.

If desired and in order to properly present the seed-cotton or other material to the slot so that the fiber thereof may become entangled or engaged with the fiber of the mass of material which is exerting an expansive force or pressure against the inner surface of such head-plate or so as to be eflficiently gripped between the surface of that portion thereof which bulges or expands into the slot and the adjacent surface of the lip of the slot, a movement of the fresh material or seed-cotton along and lengthwise of the slot may be effected. Many specifically different constructions may be devised and adopted for effecting this movement or travel of the seed material. In Figs. 1, 2, 6, and 8 of the accompanying drawings, H designates one form of conveyer adapted for this purpose. In Figs. 4 and 5 an endlesschain conveyer H is shown. The conveyer H is in the form of a spiral plate or blade carried by a shaft which is journaled in a bearing I and carries at its outer end a pinion 1, arranged to mesh with a double annular rack B, which is also engaged by a pinion I", carried by a shaft 1', suitably journaled in the framework A and driven by a belt passing over pulleys l I from the main shaft. The double rack B may be supported in any suitable manner, as by means of rollers G upon a track carried by the main frame.

In the form of conveyer shown in Figs. 4: and 5 the endless chain H is provided with projections or teeth, and said chain is mounted above and in proximity to the slot and extends lengthwise thereof. This chain is carried over sprockets H one of which may be driven by a bevel-gear H engaging a pinion H upon the inner end of the shaft which carries the pinion I In Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 I have shown means for feeding the seed material lengthwise of the slots in the head-plate.

In Figs. 9, 10, and 11 I have shown a construction in which positive feeding mechanism is omitted.

It will be understood that special feeding mechanism is in some cases desirable and is used as an auxiliary part of the invention; but it may not be necessary in all cases.

By the arrangement and operation above set forth a longitudinal central opening through the mass of material P is produced, and by progressively moving the seed and seed material along or lengthwise of the slots not only is the fiber efficiently and thoroughly stripped from the seeds, but the seeds are finally delivered into the central opening through the mass of material and may be delivered therefrom through a delivery opening or pipe L or otherwise. The progressive movement of the material along or lengthwise of the slot should be so regulated and timed that when the length of the slot has been traversed the fiber will be entirely and thoroughly stripped from the seeds.

The desired pressure of the mass of material against the inner surface of the cap or head plate in order to enable such material to exert an expansive force against such surface may be secured in any desirable or suitable manner-as, for instance. by means of a plunger M of a hydraulic jack upon which is carried a base or support K, which engages the mass of material P, or, if desired, by making the chamber or holder slightly conical or tapered.

Instead of having the seeds drop through the central opening through the mass of material they may be removed in other ways as, for instance, by means of a suction-blast. One form of means for accomplishing this result is shown in Fig. 8 and which comprises a blower S and pipe R, through which the seeds may be drawn. In Figs. 9, 10, and 11 is shown an arrangement of suction-blast wherein is provided an exhaust or suction flue R over each slot in the head-plate, each flue extending lengthwise and being slotted the length of the slot in such manner that the seed-cotton may approach the opening or slot in the head-plate and the seeds after they have been stripped of their lint or fiber may pass or be drawn into the fine and be discharged or delivered, by means of the blower or fan S, to any suitable point. All the fines R are arranged to communicate with and to deliver into a common flue or passage R with which the fan or blower S communicates.

It is obvious that one or more slots may be employed in the head-plate, and the greater the number of slots the greater rapidity of action is secured. It is also obvious that the mass of material drawn into the chamber or holder or which is added to the moving mass, as above explained and set forth, may at the same time be built up and compressed into a column of high densityby the action described and from which column portions of the desired length to form commercial bales may be detached.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that I employ relatively moving surfaces, one of such surfaces being slotted and the seed material being presented to such slot, so as to permit the fibers thereof to be engaged or gripped between such relatively movable surfaces and stripped or drawn from the seeds, the adhesion of the lint to the seeds being overcome in the manner above described, whereby the seeds may be removed independently. This is the broad principle of my invention, and while I have disclosed such broad principle as applied to a type of machine wherein the fiber when stripped from the seeds is at the same time built up into a compressed mass such a type of machine is not essential in carrying out my invention, and the baling feature may be dispensed with, the generic idea being based on the utilization of relatively movable surfaces, between which the fiber is gripped or engaged, and at the same time to restrain the seeds, whereby the fiber is drawn or stripped from the seeds.

Many other modifications, variations, and changes in the details of construction and arrangement will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art and still fall within the spirit and scope of my invention. I do not desire, therefore, to be limited or restricted to the exact details shown and described; but now, having set forth the object and nature of my invention and various constructions embodying the principles thereof and having set forth and described such constructions and the purpose, function, and mode of operation thereof,

What I claim as new and useful and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a cotton-gin, the combination of a plate having a rigid surface, means to support a resilient surface in moving contact therewith, there being a feed-space for fibers of seed-cotton to become engaged between said surfaces, and means to prevent seeds attached thereto from entering between said surfaces, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a cotton-gin, means for retaining a mass of cotton, a contacting barrier for said mass of cotton, means for imparting relative movement to said mass and barrier, means for presenting seed-cotton into position for the fibers thereof to be engaged between said barrier, and mass, and means for restraining or preventing the seeds of the seed-cotton from being drawn with the fiber thereof, whereby said seeds are stripped of their fibers, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a cotton-gin, means for retaining a mass of cotton under compression, a contacting barrier for said mass, there being a feedspace for the cotton between said compressed mass and barrier whereby the fibers of seed cotton presented to said feed-space may be engaged between said compressed mass and barrier, means for relatively moving said compressed mass and barrier, and means to prevent the seeds of the seed-cotton from becoming incorporated with the compressed mass, whereby the fibers of the cotton are separated from their seeds, as and for the purpose set forth.

a. in a cotton-gin, retaining devices for a compressed mass of cotton, means for imparting a movement to one of said devices, means for feeding seed-cotton adjacent to the mass of cotton and the relatively stationary device, and means to prevent the cotton-seed of the seed-cotton from becoming incorpo rated with the mass of cotton but to permit the fibers of such seed-cotton to become entangled with the fibers of the mass of cotton during the relative movement of the retaining devices, whereby the fibers of the seedcotton are detached "from the seed, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. A cotton-gin comprising an element having a rigid surface, there being a feed-opening for cotton fibers, means to support a resilient surface in contact therewith, arranged to grip fibers of seedcotton presented thereto between such surfaces and strip them from their seeds, and means for removing the stripped seeds, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. A cotton-gin comprising an element having a rigid surface, there being afeed-opening for cotton fibers, means to support a resilient surface in moving contact therewith, and means for rejecting the seeds attached thereto from entering between said surfaces, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. A cotton-gin comprising an element having a rigid surface, there being a feed-opening for cotton fibers, means to support a resilient surface in moving contact therewith, arranged to grip fibers of seed-cotton presented thereto between such surfaces, means to reject the seeds from entering between said surfaces, and means for removing the rejected seeds, as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a cotton-gin, a holder for a mass of fibrous material, an abutment against which such mass may bear, means for relatively moving said holder and abutment, said. abutment being slotted to expose a portion of the surface of said mass, whereby when seed material is presented adjacent to such exposed surface the fibers thereof will be engaged between the mass in the holder and said abutment, and means for preventing the seeds from being drawn into the holder, as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In a cotton-gin, a chamber or holder and a slotted head, and means for imparting relative movement to said chamber and head, in combination with means for preventing the seeds of cotton fed thereto from being drawn through the slot in said head, as and for the purpose set forth.

10. In a cotton-gin, a chamber or holder and a slotted head, and means for imparting relative movement to said chamber and head, in combination with means for preventing the seeds of the seed-cotton from being drawn through the slot in the head, and means for removing the seeds when stripped of their fiber, as and for the purpose set forth.

11. In a cotton-gin, a holder for a mass of fibrous material, an abutment against which such mass bears, said abutment being slotted to expose a portion of the surface of said mass, whereby when seed material is presented adjacent to such exposed surface the fibers thereof will be engaged by the fibers or mass contained in the holder, and means for restraining the seeds from being drawn through the slot in the abutment, and means for removing the seed when stripped of their fiber, as and for the purpose set forth.

12. In a cotton-gin, a chamber or holder and a slotted head, and means for imparting relative movement to said chamber and head, in combination with means for preventing the seeds of seed-cotton from being draw n through the slot, and exhaust mechanism for removing the ginned seed, as and for the purpose set forth.

13. A cotton-gin comprising an element having a rigid slotted surface, and means to maintain another surface in moving contact therewith, the slot being too narrow to permit the passage of cotton-seeds therethrough, and being arranged for the fibers attached to such seeds to pass therethrough and become engaged between said surfaces, as and for the purpose set forth.

14. In a cotton-gin, means for retaining a mass of cotton, a barrier against which said mass contacts, means for producing relative movement of the mass and barrier in contact, there being a feed-space for the cotton between said mass and barrier to permit the fibers of seed-cotton presented to said feedspace to become engaged between the surface of said mass and said barrier, said feed-space being too narrow to permit the seeds of the seed-cotton to pass therethrough, as and for the purpose set forth.

- 15. In a cotton-gin, the combination of a chamber or holder, a slotted head therefor, the slots in said head being of less width than the cotton-seed, and mechanism for giving relative movement to said head and chamber, as and for the purpose set forth.

16. In a cotton-gin, the combination witha chamber or holder and a slotted head, the slots in said head being of less width than the cotton-seed, mechanism for imparting rela tive movement to said head and chamber or holder, and means for conveying the seed-cotton along the upper surface of the slots, as and for the purpose set forth. 17. In a cotton-gin, the combination of a holder for a compressed mass of cotton,a headplate forming part of the holder and containing a slot of less width than the cotton-seed, mechanism for producing relative movement between the mass of cotton and the headplate,,and means for conveying seed-cotton lengthwise along said slot, as and for the purpose set forth.

18. In a cotton-gin, the combination of a holder for a compressed mass of cotton substantially cylindrical in shape, a head-plate forming part of the holder having converging slots of less width than the cotton-seed, mechanism for producing relative rotation of the mass and the head-plate, means for conveying seed-cotton toward the point of convergence along said slots, and means for there discharging the stripped seeds, as and for the purpose set forth.

19. In a cotton-gin, the combination of a holder for a compressed mass of cotton substantially cylindrical in shape, a head-plate forming part of the holder having converging slots of less width than the cotton-seed, mechanism for producing relative rotation of the mass and the head-plate, means for conveying seed-cotton along the slots on the upper side of the head-plate toward the point of convergence, and means for there discharging the stripped seeds, as and for the purpose set forth.

20. In a cotton-gin, the combination of a holder for a compressed mass of cotton substantially cylindrical in shape, a head-plate forming part of the holder and having converging slots of less width than the cottonseed, mechanism for producing relative rotation of the mass and the head-plate, means for conveying seed-cotton along the slots on the upper side of the head-plate toward the point of convergence, means for there dis charging the stripped seeds, and means for removing through said holder the cotton fiber stripped therefrom, as and for the purpose set fort-h.

21. In a cotton-gin, the combination of a holder for a compressed mass of cotton substantially cylindrical in shape, a head-plate formin art of the holder havin conver in z: a b 2:

slots of less width than the cotton-seed, mechanism for producing relative rotation of the mass and the head-plate, means for confining the feed of the seed-cotton to the outer ends of the slots, means for conveying the seed-cotton thus fed along the slots toward the point of convergence, and means for there discharging the stripped seeds, as and for the purpose set forth.

22. In a cotton-gin, the combination of a holder for a compressed mass of cotton substantially cylindrical in shape,a head-plate forming part of the holder having converging slots of less width than the cotton-seed, mechanism for producing relative rotation of the mass and the head-plate, a hopper, a conical deflector above said slots arranged to deflect seed-cotton to the outer ends of the slots, and means to convey the same along the slots toward the point of convergence, 'as and for the purpose set forth.

23. In a cotton-gin, the combination with a slotted head and a holder for a substantially cylindrical mass of cotton, and mechanism for giving relative rotation to such head and mass, of mechanism for conveying the seed-cotton along such slots, and a hopper over the head provided interiorly with a conical deflector of slightly less diameter at its base than the slotted head and having formed thereon bridges to overlie the spaces between the slots and conveyers, as and for the purpose set forth.

24. In a cotton-gin, the combination with a slotted head and a holder for a substantially cylindrical mass of cotton, and mechanism for giving relative rotation to such head and mass, of mechanism for conveying the seed-cotton along such slots, and a hopper arranged over the head and provided interiorly with a conical deflector having a base of somewhat less diameter than the slotted head, and provided at intervals over the spaces between the slots with projecting bridges having a double inclination, as and for the purpose set forth.

25. In a cotton-gin, the combination with a slotted head and a holder for a substantially cylindrical mass of cotton, and mechanism for giving relative rotation to such head and mass, of screw conveyers arranged over each slot in the head, and mechanism for driving the same, as and for the purpose set forth.

26. In a cotton-gin, the combination with a convergently-slotted head and a holder for a substantially cylindrical mass of cotton, and mechanism for giving relative rotation to such head and mass, of means for conveying seedcotton over the slots in the head from the outer ends of the slots toward the inner ends of the same, an inclosure communicating with said inner ends providing a passage exteriorly of the machine for the stripped seeds, and an exhaust mechanism connected therewith, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

27. In a cotton-gin, the combination witha convergently-slotted head and a holder for a substantially cylindrical mass of cotton, and

mechanism for giving relative rotation to said mass and head, and conveyers arranged over each slot for the purpose of conveying the seed-cotton along the upper surface of such slots from the enter to the inner ends of the same, of a pipe connecting with the inner end of the conveyers and extending exteriorly of the machine, and an exhaust mechanism connected with such pipe, as and for the purpose set forth.

28. In a cotton-gin, means for retaining a mass of cotton under compression, a contacting barrier for said mass, there being a feedspacefor cotton to enter between said compressed mass and barrier whereby the fibers of seed-cotton presented to said feed-space may be engaged between said compressed mass and barrier, means for relatively moving said compressed mass and barrier, means to prevent the seeds of the seed-cotton from being incorporated with said compressed mass, whereby the fibers of the cotton are separated from their seeds, and means for the removal of the stripped seeds, as and for the purpose set forth.

29. In a cotton-gin, the combination of an element having a rigid surface, with means to support a resilient surface in moving contact therewith, there being a feed-s pace for the cotton to enter between said surfaces whereby fibers of seed-cotton presented to said feedspace may become engaged between said surfaces, and an abutment on the rigid surface adjacent to the feed-space and organized in connection with the resilient surface to prevent seeds of said cotton from being drawn between the said surfaces, whereby the fibers of the cotton are separated from their seeds, as and for the purpose set forth.

30. In a cotton-gin, the combination of an element having a rigid surface, with means-to support a resilient surface in moving contact therewith, there being a feed-space for the cotton to enter between said surfaces whereby fibers of seed-cotton presented to said feedspace may become engaged between said surfaces, and an abutment on the rigid surface adjacent to the feed-space and organized in connection with the resilient surface to prevent seeds of said cotton from being drawn between the said surfaces, whereby the fibers of the cotton are separated from their seeds, and means for removal of the stripped seeds, as and for the purpose set forth.

31. In a cotton-gin, the combination of an element having a rigid surface, with means to support a resilient surface in moving contact therewith, a feed-space, for the cotton to enter between the moving surfaces, an abutment being organized in connection with the resilient surface to permit the entrance of fibers but not of seeds therebetween, a flue having an opening adjacent to the abutment, and an air-blower in connection therewith, as and for the purpose set forth.

32. In a cottongin,the combination of means to support a plane, circular, lintengaging surface; a plane surface organized in connection therewith bearing thereon, and having movement relative thereto around the center thereof, and having also an abutment edge on its forward side; all organized in connection with the lin t-engaging surface to permit fibers but not seeds of cotton to enter between the two surfaces, as and for the purpose set forth.

33. In acotton-gin,the combination of means to support a plane, circular, lint-engaging surface; a plane surface organized in connection therewith bearing thereon, and having movement relative thereto around the center thereof, and having also an abutment edge on its forward side; all organized in connection with the lint-engaging surface to permit fibers but not seeds of cotton to enter between the two surfaces, a feed-space for seed-cotton adjacent to the abutment, means for removal of the stripped seeds, and means for removal of the stripped fibers, as and for the purpose set forth.

34L. In a cotton-gin, means to support a circular lint-engaging surface, an element having a rigid surface bearing against the lintengaging surface with a rotatory motion in respect thereto and having a slot through it less in width than the cotton-seed, as and for the purpose set forth.

35. In a cotton-gin, means to support a circular lint-engaging surface, an elementhaving a rigid surface bearing againstthelint-engaging surface with a rotatory motion in respect thereto and having a slot through it less in width than the cotton-seed, means for removal of the stripped seeds, as and for the purpose set forth.

36. In a cotton-gin, a holder for a compressed mass of fibrous material having its surface on one side a substantially circular area, a plate forming part of said holder bearing against said circular area and having an opening with an abutment edge whereby the surface of the mass is exposed, said abutment being organized in connection with the mass to permit fibers but not seeds of cotton to pass between the mass and plate, and means to produce relative rotation of the mass and the plate while thus in contact, as and for thepurpose set forth.

37. In a cotton-gin, a holder for a compressed mass of fibrous material having its surface on one side a substantially circular area, a plate forming part of said holder bearing against said circular area and having a slot through it less in width than the cottonseed, and means to produce relative rotation of the mass and the plate while thus in contact, as and for the purpose set forth.

38. In a cotton-gin, an element having a slot of fixed width less than the width of the trance of fibers through it, means to support resence of the subscribing Witnesses.

seeds of cotton and arranged to permit the enl hand, this 11th day of October, 1900, in the p a lint-engaging surface against said slot, and i i r I to produce relative motion between the two, GEORGE 5 and means to convey seed-cotton along the Witnesses:

slot, as and for the purpose set forth. FREDERIO S. GOODWIN,

In Witness WhereofI have hereunto set my WVM. M. RHEEM. 

